We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Vega recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

As a multi-hyphenate creative, I have built many businesses based on what was lacking at the time. Dique! Media was built because there was a lack of positive Dominican representation at the time. Lujo Wellness was built because there was a lack holistic ways to care for your teeth. In the oral care game, many dentists and dental professionals disagree with my product because it’s activated charcoal based. It is argued that activated charcoal is terrible for your teeth. The teeth of my customers tend to say different. I believe in my product because 1. it was God given and mandated. 2. I have been brushing my teeth with my product for decades. It is proven that taking care of your oral health keeps most of the body healthy. For me, regular toothpaste was never a way to take control of your oral care. I never cared for it and I found it made your breath worse. I know most people consider my product pricey for 25 dollars a pot. For someone on a budget, those 25 dollars buy your health improving via your teeth, a longer lasting product vs toothpaste, and new found sense of confidence with a new brighter smile. I will never disrespect the knowledge and schooling a dentist or dental professional had to go through. However, Lujo Toothpolish has proven over the last four years how taking the time to budget and make time for your teeth with a natural product can bring lasting results. Respectfully. :::wink:::

Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started my product based business because the opportunity presented itself. I was on Instagram stories explaining how I take care of my teeth and I had a follower ask me to repeat the steps because she missed the 24 hour stories window. I offered to make her the product and send it to her. She said yes and gave me her address. Boom! Lujo Wellness was born. I am most proud of seizing the opportunity and doing things afraid. I think fear and not recognizing the opportunity is where most people allow the self sabotage to happen. In doing this, it allowed my audience/customers to take a chance on me and on themselves. Everything I have done with my business has been posted on my @lujowellness page. It allowed my customers to experience the authenticity of building a business from the ground up. I wish I can say I was very disciplined in the beginning but it was a challenge. However, solving the problem of obtaining a brighter smile consistently is where I gained my audience’s trust. Shout out to my cult following for allowing me to live the dream for the past 4 years.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story I can share was when I experienced online back lash from dental professionals and teeth whitening techs because I stuck by my controversial product. For a few months in 2022, there was a lot of passive aggressive posts mentioning how you cannot trust everyone and their business online. I knew most of those messages were meant for me, my branding and my product. There was a ton of “why you should not use activated charcoal on your teeth” posts. Let me tell you how I almost allowed the Enemy get in my head and doubt my product! It was me against the teeth whitening industry. It had me questioning if what I was doing illegal, immoral, damaging, etc. However, I knew in my heart that when I had the command to sell my product (that I have gatekept all my life) it was a direct order from the Holy Spirit and I will never not mention that. I had to check myself, pray and get back in the game. I also had to get a little petty with it. Jesus was kind but not nice. That was my approach in defending myself, my branding, and my product.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I hope the readers of CanvasRebel do not think that all my life I has to fight (Kendrick voice) but low key I had to (insert loud east coast laugh) I say this because when I built my audience was to clear my name about another horrible incident I had in 2017. I was fired from Northern State Prison in 2015 and was ALMOST charged with drug trafficking. The crime was I did not report an inmate I knew from the street (which was stupid of me) and I did not snitch on the officer that was doing the crime. Yes, this is a lot. I created a podcast episode explaining my side of the story and the rest is history. My audience related and was rooting for me. After years of that sob story, my podcast Dique! The Podcast was recognized but only for that. I left the idea of media on the back burner because of Lujo Wellness and how quickly it took off. However, I am ready to revive it with all the GREAT things that happened from that particular fall from grace. My best advice to build your audience is to make sure you know people know you in real life. I am not saying to spill all your tea but being authentic, setting your boundaries online, and actually living what your about WILL attract your people. If you would like to hear the TECLA nominated episode: Please search Dique! the podcast on Apple and Spotify. The episode name is called “A Fall from Grace”. Enjoy that sob story because Dique! Media and Dique! the podcast has a new point of view and this time no one is crying!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sarahvegamelian @diquemedia @lujowellness
• Youtube: @Sarahvegamelian

Image Credits

These are all my personal pictures. The picture with the messy bun and holding the Lujo Toothpolish can be credited to @bryonsummers on Instagram and all platforms.